The three priests figured they'd give Landon and Aria one last chance to back out. Running away once things got scary would trash their reputation in the esoteric community. After that, nobody would hire them for esoteric work ever again. In Portfall, everything depended on their reputation and whether people could trust them. These priests weren't saints who worked for free. They had bills to pay. Apart from selling protective charms, esoteric readings generated the most revenue. These newbies had barely set foot in Portfall and were already trying to con the Keating family. If this got out, news like that would only ruin their lives. But surprisingly, Landon and Aria didn't react to the warning at all. Instead, Randall's face went white as he urgently whispered to them. "Mr. York, you've just recovered this year. Evil spirits and Phantom Patrols are way too dangerous for you. Let's come back after these priests clean everything up. We can meet Kelsier another day." Randall
The other priest dressed more unconventionally and had a shorter fuse. He sipped his tea and muttered, "The Keating's situation is definitely bizarre. If it weren't for Ms. Keating's reactions, I'd think she was just throwing tantrums to get her parents' attention." "But some things don't add up, especially those handprints and palm marks in her bedroom. They appeared out of nowhere. She couldn't have made them herself, not at those angles..." The priest stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Jaqen leading Aria's group inside. "Everyone, these practitioners have just arrived, and they are also here to examine Ms. Keating," Jaqen spoke with his usual diplomacy. "Why don't you all get acquainted while I go upstairs to make the announcement?" The three priests nodded politely. When facing such difficult cases, practitioners did tend to consult with each other. However, looking at these newcomers, none of them took Aria seriously, given her young age. After all, their own disciples
Reputation in the field of esoteric arts should be earned through actual work. The esoteric community kept track of everything, including the number of manifestations someone had dismantled or how much beneficence they'd accumulated. Every country had its own respected exorcists or arcane practitioners. They just called them different names. But that didn't mean people couldn't fake it. Some had real skills, while others just ran their mouths. They didn't know the first thing about reading esoteric formations, but they could sweet-talk anyone into believing nonsense. They didn't just steal money—they ruined lives with their scams, using cheap tricks to exploit people who didn't know better. For example, they would tell sick people to skip medicine and just drink blessed water instead. That was complete garbage. If that stuff actually worked, nobody would ever get old or die. So Aria watched these so-called esoteric experts or arcane practitioners with healthy skepticism. She'd
When Aria defended the two young women, the crowd reacted in different ways. Some looked at her with approval, but others couldn't care less. And then there were those whose faces twisted with disgust. Now she was starting to understand why people said corrupted fortune could turn normal people bitter and spiteful. Nobody could trust each other. They couldn't tell who was genuine and who was not, especially with so many willing to attack without cause. Irene's earlier comments were not entirely made up. Her words were just twisted to stir the pot. Aria didn't stick around to enjoy the atmosphere. The moment she slid into the car, Randall let out a sigh and said, "Things in Portfall are complicated. Back in the day, people would risk their necks sneaking in just to give birth here, all for the benefits. "Later on, they came for job opportunities. The finance and law sectors here were way more developed, especially for international law. With great pay and benefits, talented peop
When Aria said she knew someone in the arcane practice, Randall looked around with a confused face. With a beautiful smile, Aria pointed at herself. Before the coffee even made it down, Randall sprayed it in a fine mist. "Mrs. York, were you talking about yourself?" "Yeah, I know how I look, but I actually studied the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams with my mentor up in the mountains when I was young. I won't claim to be an expert, but checking out the Keating residence and their fortune isn't too hard for me." Aria wasn't bragging, but she was not being modest either. Indeed, she couldn't match Landon, who'd spotted Portfall's corrupted fortune the second they arrived. But when it came to catching evil spirits and reading properties, she'd always had solid instincts. Randall looked skeptical. Who'd expect a wealthy businesswoman like Aria to know arcane arts? "She's the one who brought me back from death's door." Landon finally spoke up with his usual casual indifference. "
The food scene in Portfall was lively after dark. The commercial district was particularly crowded with locals and tourists. Randall got them seated at a restaurant. He took care of everything himself, so Aria missed out on whatever Sam had experienced arriving in Portfall alone. At first, Randall tried steering them toward a private dining room. The 100-year-old establishment was renowned for its lobster bisque, which was slow-simmered in clay pots that retained every bit of flavor. But Aria had to sit outside where she could track down what had corrupted the city's fortune. She didn't head into the private room. Randall knew they were working, so he kept things low-key and left his security team behind. Even so, Landon looked ridiculous sitting at a sidewalk table in his crisp suit. The moment he sat down, Randall immediately moved to pour him some coffee. Every single person walking past stretched their neck to get a better look. Some people muttered in their local accent,